October Spotlight

Rising to falls with Judo – learn how to fall safely in 2024

For October we are spotlighting the exciting Judo for Safer Falling sessions that run at the Hertfordshire Sports Village. Funded by Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire, in partnership with Welwyn Hatfield Healthy Hub, this pioneering exercise programme seeks to teach older adults the correct techniques to fall safely and reduce risk of injury. Wider benefits from the programme include landing safely, strengthening your muscles, improving balance and flexibility.

This class is free to the public and delivered at the Hertfordshire Sports Village on Mondays 16:30 - 17:15. You can find out more what is involved in the classes on the Moving More Activity Finder.

Judo for Safer Falling comes with international recognition, after the programme was propelled earlier in the year by being showcased at the "International Conference on Safe Falling for the Elderly through Judo". The conference hosted by Tokai University in Japan was organised to support the teaching and understanding of Safe Falling for Older People through Judo.  Dr Mike Callan, from the University of Hertfordshire presented the research behind Judo for Safer Falling to the international audience at the event.  A total of 42 delegates attended from 14 national federations including the likes of Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, Croatia, Belgium, Japan, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and USA.